The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas · Page 1

Page 1 article text (OCR)

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS VOL. L—NO. 36 Blytheville Courier Blytheville Daily News Mississippi Valley Leader Blytheville Herald BLYTHEVILLE. ARKANSAS. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1954 TWELVE PAGES Bid to Shorten Inquiry Fails Army Accused of Employing Spy's Friends at Monmouth WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts to cut short the McCarthy-Army hearings blew up today. The Senate investigation quickly swung to a charge from the McCarthy camp that the Army allowed "friends and associates" of atom spy Julius Rosenberg to work in a secret radar laboratory. Roy .Cohn, general counsel to Sen. McCarthy, made the accusation by asking Secretary' of the Army Stevens if he did not know Rosenberg ployed at associates were em- Ft. Monmouth, N.J. until the senator's investigations •'occasioned their dismissal" months after Stevens .took office. Stevens replied that none of the 35 security cases at Monmouth was a Communist "so far as I know" and that none had pleaded the Fifth Amendment to avoid testimony. Sen. McCarthy called that "clearly false" testimony. There was a hassle between Stevens and McCarthy a t that point as to whether McCarthy was referring to the entire Army Signal Corps or only to the Monmouth laboratory. Stevens said he was speaking only of Ft. Monmouth. Plan Abandoned ' It was on this note that the investigations subcommittee recessed for lunch. Stevens had testified for only 17 minutes. All the rest of the forenoon session had gone into talk about a finally abandoned proposal to confine the hearings to testimony by Stevens and McCarthy. Announcing the committee, could not agree on that, Chairman Mundt said the investigation would proceed as In the past, adding it might take two or three weeks jnore. , Bitterness erupted in an hour's general exchange over Mundt's announcement. McCarthy suggested that Joseph N. Welch, the Army counsel, had "welshed" on his own proposal to limit principals, asserting: : "As far as I'm ' concerned, it's bad faith." Charges Fly McCarthy declared -that in -the future he would consult with Welch "only if he is under oath." Welch fired back "the accusation of bad faith is false, and the other people at this table know it to be false." Welch had suggested yesterday that if McCarthy would follow Stevens to' the witness chair the hearings could be shortened. Mundt said the subcommittee investigating the controversy had explored in closed meetings last night and today "every honorable way" to shorten the hearings, and rejected "every dishonorable way." But he sai3 all efforts to arbitrate the dispute and agree on a narrowing down of' charges and witnesses had failed to bring agreement among all the parties concerned. Mundt made his announcement after Sen. Dirksen (R-I11) had proposed that testimony be confined to the secretary of the Army and Sen. McCarthy. Will Call Cohn Dirksen said he was taking up Graduation To Be May 13 At Armorel a suggestion made yesterday by Joseph N. Welch, special counsel for the Army in the scrap. Welch had said he would be content to rest his case with Stevens and McCarthy, and "at most" two more witnesses. Today Welch intimated that his suggestion had been misconstrued He would insist, he said, on calling Roy M. Cohn, McCarthy committee counsel, and Francis P. Carr. McCarthy's staff director. Welch said he fully concurred in the belief that the hearings could be shortened by terminating Stevens' testimony and calling McCarthy next, but he made clear he was not withdrawing his right to question Cohn and Carr. this brought a contention by McCarthy that Welch appeared to be "welshing" on his proposal of yesterday. A few minutes earlier, Stevens had said he personally thought "every fact and every witness" should be brought out. Welch told the committee that he had conferred with Special Committee Counsel Ray H. Jenkins this morning and "we were unable to invent a magic formula Published Daily Except Sunday SINGLE COPY FIVE GENTS Surprise Amendment Threatens to Snarl Senate on T-H Action WASHINGTON (AP) — A surprise antidiscrimination amendment threaten today to snarl Senate action on a bill to revise the Taft-Hartley labor relations act. Chairman H. Alexander Smith (R—NJ) of the Senate Labor Committee predicted a filibuster by Southern Democrats if the amendment is called up. 'Sen. Lehman CD—Lib—NY ) served notice on the Senate that he would "do every ting in my power to bring this proposal to a vote." Lehman's amendment caught the Senate by surprise yesterday as it opened debate on the revision bill, aimed at carrying out most of President Eisenhower's labor recommendations. Unlimited Delate As drafted the Lehman proposal would make it an unfair labor practice for either an employer or a union to discriminate against any worker "because of race, creed, color, national origin or ancestry." Sen. Ives (R—NY) had ready a similar amendment. The Senate operates under rules permitting unlimited debate and Southern senators have used this right in the past to prevent civil rights legislation from reaching a vote. Smith said it would be "most difficult" to round up enough Republican votes to convice Southern Democrats that the Lehman proposal could be defeated and thus win their consent to a vote. He said many Republicans would be reluctant to go on record against See MCCARTHY on Page 12 an antidiscrimination amendment in an election year. Before the Senate can take up Lehman's amendment, it must dispose of a controversial "states rights" amendment By Sen. Goldwater (R—Ariz) and a motion by Senate Labor Committee Democrats to send the bill back to committee. Introduction of- the Lehman amendment spurred Northern Democrats' hopes of winning Southern Democratic support for their recommittal- motion. One influential Southern Democrat, declining to be quoted by name, said such a motion would have a 50-50 chance. Confusion on Effect Senate debate on the Goldwater proposal gave rise to considerable confusion over its probable effect. Goldwater himself acknowledged some uncertainty as to how far it would go in giving states control over labor-management matters. At one point he said his amendment could permit a state to forbid collective bargaining between an employer and a union, a cardinal "right" under the federal Taft- Hartley law. Later he said he thought his plan could allow states to forbid strikes and compel arbitration to settle labor disputes. But he also said his amendment could not allow an employer or a union to take away any of the "rights" of employes as spelled out in the Taft-Hartley law. One of these is the right to strike. Dien Bien Phu Defense Falters; Allies to Offer Plan for Korea Compromise Unification Plan Reported Seventeen Armorel High School seniors will receive their diplomas at commencement excercises to be held at 8 p.m. May 13 in the school auditorium. Elbert Johnson, Blytheville city attorney, will be the commencement speaker. Baccalaureate services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday in the school aduitorium by the Rev. J. E. Cooper, pastor of Armorel Baptist Church. Bobby Lou has been named valedictorian and Larry Cassidy salutatorian. Other seniors include Barbara Jones, Louise Capps, 'Betty Stinnett, Fay Odom, Cora May McDaniels, Pauline Hardesty, Joyce Johnston, Martha Dyer, Anne Sanders. Billy Graham, Billy Williams, Fred White, Jimmy Tilley, Char- j morning. les Morris and Sammy Hughes. The group will leave May 17 on a 10-day senior trip to Panama City, Pla. Hall Fogs 2-Party Concept WASHINGTON W) — Republi- . can National Chairman Leonard W. Hall claimed today that the GOP — not the Democratic Party — is following in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. The Democratic Party traces its roots and principles back to those two early 19th Century U. S. presidents. Noting that the "season of Jefferson-Jackson Day celebrations is again upon you." Hall said in an open letter to Democratic National Chairman Stephen A; Mitchell: "We feel, regretfully, that the Democratic Party during the past 20-odd years has somehow lost sight of certain basic Jeffersonian and Jacksonian tenets . . The Republican Party is proud to follow in their footsteps, particularly with respect to economy, lower taxes, decentralization and greater individual freedom." Hall said Jefferson and Jackson both "Would have supported wholeheartedly" the Eisenhower administration program "because it is one that engendera faith, not frustration." And, said Hall, Jackson and Jefferson "shared with President Eisenhower his devotion to government economy, low taxes, and small federal debt." The Republican chairman urged Mitchell to relexamine the guiding precepts and principles" of Jefferson and Jackson, saying that such a review "may indicate where your party has strayed from the inspiring courses charted by these leaders." Frank Harshman Frank Harshman To Head Jaycees Joe Warren Becomes First Vice President In Annual Election Cotton Eyed For Damage From Frost Still Too Early To Tell Exactly Is Concensus Farmers of this area were roaming their fields this morning in an attempt to evaluate the damage done their fine spring cotton crops by" yesterday's cold wind and last night's light frost. Thus far, most farmers seemed to be in agreement it is too early to tell just what damage has been done by the sudden cold snap. Outer leaves on the young cotton were not the pictures of health today. However, as County Agent Keith Bilbrey pointed out, these Frank Harshman was elected leav es are relatively unimportant Planning Group to Meet The City Planning Commission will hold its monthly meeting tonight in the Municipal Court room at City Hall at 7:30 to begin work on a city plan, Commission Chairman Jno. C. McHaney said this president of the Blytheville Jun- Chamber of Commerce last night, with Joe Warren taking the position of first vice-president at the annual election of officers. Other members elected to offices were Joe Bill McHaney, second vice-president; Ted Bourzi- kas, secretary: and Harold Davis, treasurer. New board members are Nick Powers, Jack Owen, Emery Frances and Bob Warren. Jaycees, associate members and 'their guests attended the fish fry held prior to the election. A state director will be appointed at a later date. Mr. Harshman. who will replace Billy Boone as president, urged the Jaycees in the many community projects sponsored by the club and promised full cooperation of the Jaycees with the other civic clubs in working for the community. He reminded the members of the State Convention to be held at Camden, May 14-16. A member of the Jaycees since 1950, Mr. Harshman has Worked with the club on various projects including the "scotch light" safety program, Cotton Picking Contest floats and teen-age "Rodeo." devel °P men t of the cotton Crucial is the bud which nestles between the two leaves. If it lives, then what up until now has been one of the most promising cotton crops in the history of this area will be safe, for the time being anyway. Mr. Bilbrey's opinion was that "the majority of the cotton probably will be all right. I do look for some replanting, however." He also was of the opinion that last night's frost was not nearly as hard on the young cotton as was yesterday's cold wind. Those early leaves in most instances seem sure to die. Mr. Bilbrey stated. It will be Thursday or Friday before any fairly accurate estimate of the damage may be made, he stated. Meanwhile some farmers were preparing, to plant again. Several seed dealers reported that, though they had not sold any additional seed on the strength of the recent turn of the weather, farmers have been making inquiries regarding availability of cottonseed. By EDDY GILMORE GENEVA (AP) — The U N. allies in Korea were report ed today readying a compro mise proposal"for unification of the occupied, divided pen insula. This development was reported by a highly informed source as a delegation of five Vietminh Rebel leaders arrived today from Indochina to join the impending: talks aimed at. ending the seven-year war in that Far Eastern battleground. The source reporting the projected Allied proposal on Korea said it would be a "very difficult thing" for Russia. Red China and North Korea to turn It down. The Communists reaction to the Allied proposal, the source added, would determine whether there is any real chance of unifying the divided country and holding free elections there. Stalemated * Since its beginning, the Korean phase of the Far Eastern conference has been stalemated.by each side's insistence on its own plan for unification. South Korea and her 15 allies here at the conference insist on U.N, supervision of voting: the Communists demand that all foreign troops get out and elections be held on a basis the West is certain would assure a Communist victory. Details of the compromise plan could not be learned, but the informant said South Korea and her 15 allies were closer to unanimity on the thorny issue than at any time since the Geneva conference began. Officials hope to have all minor differences ironed out and to be able to confront the Communists with a unified plan before the week ends, he added. Met by Reds The delegation of Indochinese rebels, headed by graying Deputy Premier-Foreign Minister Pham Van Dong, was met at the airport by an impressive array of Communist dignitaries. Among those on hand to greet them were Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei G r o rn y k o. Red China's Premier-Foreign Minister Chou En lai and North Korean Foreign Minister Nam II. In a statement after he stepped from the plane. Van Dong said the Vietminh delegation was "disposed to continue all its efforts toward peaceful solution of the Indochina question." Van Dong shook hands first with Chou and after a round of greetings, drove off in the Chinese xpplomat's limousine. The Indochina parley is expected to start e i t h e r tomorrow or Thursday. Representatives of the Associ- See KOREA on Page 12 AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT ARRIVES IN HELSINKI — Brian Hill, expelled charge d'affaires of the Australian embassy in Moscow, carries his child down the steps of train-following arrival In Helsinki, Finland, from Leningrad. Nine members of the embassy made the train journey from Russia. Their departure resulted from the break in relations between the two countries. (A PWirephoto) Aid for Indochina Hinges on Support WASHINGTON (AP) — President Eisenhower was quoted by Sen. Flanders (R-Vt) as saying today that the United States will undertake no military operations in Indochina 'unless it has the support of the people of that region." Flanders, a member of the Armed Services Committee, gave .he«?account, to newsmen after con- erring with the President about he Indochina crisis. "I was glad to hear the Presi- lent any that, no military operation vould be undertaken un Indo- chirin) unless it had the support of the people of the region," the senator said. Flanders' White House visit fol- owed close on the heels of word rom Senate Republican Loader •Cnowland of California that he .vould give his "fullest support" Eisenhower should ask Congress he was "speaking on his own responsibility." Knowland said It was his feeling that the French nnd British are ready to 'give in to Communist pressure at the Geneva conference, raising the possibility of what, he termed a far eastern "rnunich." The Culiforniiin said he did not consider that Secretary of State Dulles has failed at Geneva, but that, Dulles has performed "a mission of tremendous value to the United Stales." Inside Today's Courier News ... We Hope Doff Catching Will Be Permanent . . . Editorials . . . page 6. . . . . . Chickasaws, Papooses Sweep District Track Meet Honors ... White Sox Are Ready to Hide from Yankees . . . Sports . . . pages 8 and 9. . . ... 80 per Cent of Arkansas Convict* Are Paroled Before Expiration of Sentence . . . First in a Series on the Arkansas Clemency System . . . page 2. . . •. . . Spring Gives Boost to Sales; Is It a Salve or Cure? . . . OM of a Seriec on the Nation's Buiilnetw . . . page 5. .. Second lap of the three-shot Salk polio vaccine trials was completed in Mississippi County today with most vaccination centers reporting ever increased speed and handling of second-graders. Blytheville's clinic gave the second of the series of innoculations to 350 students, which showed a drop of less than ten from the number which took the initial shot. Leachville vaccinated 47—exactly the same number it handled one week ago today. Fifty children passed through Manila's clinic today as compared to 51 last week. Figures for Osceola and Wilson were not available at noon today. Children who received their first .shot from the Blytheville clinic, but who were not on band for today's innoculation, may receive makeup shots at 10 a, m. on Thursday, according to Miss Pearl Lee, director of the county headquarters office. Other clinics are to Schedule their makeup shots either today or tomorrow, she said. Miss Lee sent out a plea for a three-drawer filing cabinet today as records began piling up in the headquarters office. She explained it will be needed only until June 15. Anyone desiring to lend the office one, may call 3-8894. Many Cotton Farmers In State Must Replant LITTLE ROCK to — Heavy rains over the past weekend will force many Arkansas cotton farmers to re-plant their acreage. Miles McPeek, agricultural statistician for the Federal - State Crop Reporting Service, said today that many cotton fields will have to be re-planted. However, he said the farmers have plenty of time to handle the chore. "Farm work is very well advanced, being about a month ahead of last year." said McPeek in his weekly report on agricultural conditions. He said a large part of the cotton crop was up to good stands There is no immediate estimate when the rains fell last week, of the damage, said McPeek. On other crops, McPeek said about 70 per cent of the rice acreage has been seeded; sizeable acreages of soybeans are up to good stands; nnd about half the corn crop has been planted. he Southeast Asia hot spot. Knowland's stand was set forth n an interview last night. At. about he same time House Speaker vlartin of Massachusetts said in speech prepared for a Troy. N. Y. GOP dinner that he believes such action "will not be necessary." Martin did not specifically mention Indochina. Have Manpower He said that anti-Communist Asiatic nations "have the manpower t.o win their freedo mif they receive the material and moral support of the free-world nations!" The Martin talk was canceled after his Washington office announced that bad weather prevented him from flying to Troy. Knowland snid of the possibility that Eisenhower might ask for authority to send troops to Indochina; "I will give him my fullest support. I do believe Indochina is the *ey to outlast A S1 a and South- away from its fund campaign goal east Asia is the key to the balance of $15,000. of Asla ' Total contributions to date stood "We found out which associates ,. „ . are prepared to stand up and be U._S. troops to countped ;,. ne S|lid . Due Back Today Dulles was due back in Wa,sh- I ington lute today after a brief stop at, Bermuda. Once here, he-"will brief the President and key con- See FOREIGN AID on Page 12 Red Cross Gifts Reach $73,394.65 Chickasawba Chapter of the Red at $13.394.65 today. Recent contributors include: Advance Division $20—Holt Funeral Home $10—A. G. Hall & Co. Armorel $50—Armorel Planting Company. $25—E. M. Regenold. $15—Louis Ashmorft- $10—Eric Waddell, E. L. Hale, Mrs. J. D. Barksdale, Johnny Young, W. H. Heath, T. B. O'Keefe. See RED CROSS on Page 12 The GOP leader stressed that he had no hint that. Eisenhower might be preparing to ask Congress for such approval. He said Ministerial Group Okays Sewer Plan The Blytheville Ministerial Alliance went on record yesterday as favoring the bond .ordinance to be voted on May 18 proposing a new sewer system for the city at Hotel Noble. The resolution favoring the proposed sewer system was presented to the alliance by the Rev W. J. Fitzhugh. Dr. Joe Burton editor of "Home Life" magazine, was the principal speaker at the meeting. He spoke on "The Home, The World and Missions". Articles on Arkansas' Parole System Begin Today in Courier News Why does Arkansas have a parole system ? Does it work? Does it deserve the black eye it has received from the Tuck Bishops, the Joel Carsons, -the Winona ' Freemans. How are paroles granted — and who grants them? What do the people most concerned with crime prevention think about a parole system? Associated Press staff writer Carl Bell has interviewed these people, dug through files, and checked many reports to get the answers to these questions — to find out just what Arkansas' parole system is and what makes it tick. Bell's reports on the results of this Inxestigation — a series of four stories — begins in this newspaper today on page 2. Retirement to Close Holland Teacher's 42-Year Career HOLLAND, Mo.—An open house and silver coin shower will be held Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the home economics building honoring Miss Maggie Harber, Holland second grade teacher, who is retiring this month after having taught school for 42 years—37 years in Holland and Steele schools and the other five in Crockett County, Tenn. "Miss Maggie," as she is known here, was born near Maury City, Tenn. She began her high school work at Halls, Tenn., stopped to teach at Jackson school, a rural school where she had been a pupil, returned to Halls and continued her high school work but came to Holland to teach before finishing. She took the county teachers examinations for a third grade county certificate to teach in Pemiscot County. She and Mrs. Annie Little, who was teaching at Mosely at that time, went to school at Cape' Girardeau together and took high school subjects which enabled them to get second grade county certificates. She taught the first and second and then went to Steele where she ,aught the first grade for 18 years. During these years, she saw the. streets of Steele changed from mudholes to paving. Her superin- Miss Maggie Harber tendents during these years were L. G. Wilson, C. Miller and William Carter. Wh«n she left Steele, two of the teachers who are still on the faculty there were Marion Burdine and Esther CalHns. After returning to Holland, Miss Harber taught the second grade for Set TEACHER on Fafe 12 Red Infantry Drives Toward Center of Fort By LARRY ALLEN HANOI. Indochina (AP) — Renewing their massive infantry assault on Dien Bien Phu, the Communist-led Vietminh captured a new French strong- point today on the western side of the besieged north-west Indochina fortress. A French hiph command announcement here said the battered French Union defenders inside the crumbling defenses immediately launched a strong counterattack. "Bitter combat now is under way," the French communique snid. It- was the fourth French strong- point to fall to the rebels since they launched their death blow- thrust Saturday night. The assault —suddenly stopped Sunday—was resumed with new fury 'before dawn today as a violent rainstorm lashed the battered fortress. Rain Slows Tanks The moment appeared right for the rebels to make another attempt to smash the bastion. The drenching- rains slowed down tanks operating inside the constricted fortress defenses and forced French warplnnes to cease strikes. Before the attack on the West was launched, the French estimated that the Vietminh would have to cover some 600 yards before they could stab into "the heart of the fortress. But they had to cover only about 100 feet to reach the first French barbed wire barricades and to engage the defenders in hand-Lo-hand combat. The French high command com- munique today indicated the re? newed rebel push did not have the some scope as Saturday's assault. The last attack had come from all sides of the hemmed-in fortress, now reduced to less than a mile across. Before the rebels halted their wild charges Sunday, they overran French strongpoints guarding the western, eastern 1 and northeastern approaches to the command headquarters of Brig. Gen. Christian de Castries. Today's communique made no mention of any attack other than from the west, one of the areas in which the rebels scored Saturday night and Sunday, Savage Fighting The French said the Vietminh legions returned to the attack shortly after midnight, charging in full force against the western sector of the hard-pressed garrison. Savage hand-to-hand fighting raged throughout the night. As dawn broke over the muddy plain, the battle still was in progress. The Vietminh followed their usual tactic of battering the crumbling defenses with human tidal waves. The advancing columns pressed so closely together that any paps in the ranks were quickly filled. The attackers hurled plastic containers of nitroglycerine at the barbed wire defenses. The French fought back desperately. Wave after wave of rebel attackers were raked by murderous machine-gun and artillery fire, but still they came on. The French met the rebels at the barricades with savage bayonet thrusts. It was close-quarter action. The rebels had but a short distance to race over the rain-soaked battlefield to come to grips 'With the defenders. The latest attack was preceded last night by the usual stepup in the constant rain of rebel mortar and artillery fire on the shrunken fortress defenses. The rebels also kept up a constant digging of trenches in the areas from which they had driven 'die French Union forces. Airlift Continues Both sides had rushed in rein- See INDOCHINA on Page 12 Weather ARKANSAS—Fair this afternoon and tonight, warmer Wednesday; warmer in the west and north tc- night; lowest generally in the 40s ;onight. MISSOURI — Partly cloudy and warmer this afternoon, tonight and Wednesday;, high this afternoon 5560 northeast to the 60s southwest; ow tonight 35-40 northeast to the 40s southwest. Maximum yesterday—63. Minimum this morning—3«. Sunset today—6:47. Sunrise tomorrow—5:06. Mean temperature (mldwmy fc«tweeo Igh and low—48. Precipitation last M boun I* 7:00 .m. today—none. Precipitation Jan. 1 to date—30.1J. This Date Lait Ytar Maximum ye*t*rday—S2. Minimum this mornlng—«2. Precipitation January 1 I* 4at«— 2.M,